He Is With Us!
Psalm 46
Devotional by Lisa Leidenfrost
God is our refuge and strength.
He is our protection from the storm but also our strength to go through it. He is both at the same time.
A very present help in trouble.
I love this. He is right down there with us even in the darkest night. He is a ‘very’ present help in the trouble. You are not left to deal with it alone.
Therefore, we will not fear.
Because of all the above, we don’t have to fear.
Even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though its waters roar and be troubled. Though the mountains shake with its swelling.
Notice the types of things described: the earth, the mountains, the sea. The first two are solid, foundational to us, and the thought of them being moved means things are at a cataclysmic level. Have you ever been in a bad earthquake and had the insecure feeling that the ground that holds you is not going to do it anymore? And these stable, foundational things (the earth and the mountains) even if they are removed or cast into a turbulent sea we will not fear. Why? Because our foundation goes deeper than that. It rests on something bigger, that lies beyond the physical foundations we are so familiar with. In other words, when everything turns upside down, we still rest on a rock of refuge, in God, who is a ‘very present help’ in our time of upheaval.
There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God.
The holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High.
This is a picture of what lies beyond our troubles.
God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved;
With the result, that you are not moved from your secure position. It is solid.
God shall help her, just at the break of dawn.
Again there is promised help, but note when it comes, after a long dark night, just at the break of dawn.
The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved; He uttered His voice, the earth melted.
This is incredible power, and that power is with us.
The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge.
Come, behold the works of the Lord. Who has made desolations in the earth. He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two, He burns the chariot in the fire.
Again a powerful God, but with all that, take note of the next verse.
Be still and know that I am God.
He can do anything, and no problem is too much for Him. The focus is not on the problem but on God, no matter what the result will be.
And in conclusion:
I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted in the earth!
The powerful God…
The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge.
And He is with us. What a privilege.